Schools in Texline are closed due to several illnesses that have
caused attendance to drop below the acceptable baseline measure. TISD
Superintendent Gary Laramore made the decision on Thursday after 20
percent of students were out sick. The schools were closed Friday,
Monday and will remain closed on Tuesday. School is expected to reopen
as usual on Wednesday.

By Robin Scott

Schools in Texline are closed due to several illnesses that have caused attendance to drop below the acceptable baseline measure. TISD Superintendent Gary Laramore made the decision on Thursday after 20 percent of students were out sick. The schools were closed Friday, Monday and will remain closed on Tuesday. School is expected to reopen as usual on Wednesday.

According to Laramore, absences included respiratory issues, fever and the flu. He noted, “There has been no confirmations yet that the flu we are seeing is H1N1, but common sense tells you that it is possible.” H1N1, or swine flu, is encroaching upon the Dallam and Hartley Counties area. Parents are urged to keep children home that have a fever of greater than 100 degrees and keep them home until they have been free of fever without medication for at least 24 hours.

Attendance in the Texline school district is typically 97 percent, according to Laramore; however, he noted, “On Thursday we only had 80 percent. We sent notes home with all of our kids letting their parents know we would be closed Friday, Monday and Tuesday, and we contacted all of the families that had absences by telephone.”

The Department of State Health Services in Lubbock has advised schools to consider closing when absences drop below 85 percent. Laramore commented that absences in Texline dropped suddenly on Thursday. One hundred and seventy students attend Texline schools. He also noted that one teacher was out sick as well.

Symptoms of swine flu include chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. The strain of the current outbreak of swine flu is said to cause only mild symptoms and the infected persons should recover within a few days. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women and young children are at greatest risk of contracting the illness and having complications due to the illness.

If you suspect you or a family member are ill with the swine flu, contact your doctor’s office by telephone first before going into their office.